Thoughtful gift
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1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Who were the Magi? Or who were the Magi not?
They were not kings as some classic Christmas songs have popularized. Like “We three kings” But they did have royal connections.
Came from the east. Persian or modern day Iran. 1,345 miles on the modern day roads. Hiking it would take about 440 hrs. This could have easily take up to three months. - Map on screen.
Magi were Magicians or astrologers possible Zoroastrain wise men from Persia whose knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures could be traced back to the time of Daniel. They would have been well versed on astronomy and astrology.
Astronomy is a science that studies everything outside of the earth's atmosphere, such as planets, stars, asteroids, galaxies; and the properties and relationships of those celestial bodies. ... Astrology, on the other hand, is the belief that the positioning of the stars and planets affect the way events occur on earth.
What was this star? This could not have been a supernova or a conjunction of a planets as some have theorized. This star moved then settled over one place. This had to be supernatural like the Shekinah Glory (Cloud that shaded the Israelite’s in the desert) Shekinah Glory is a visible manifestation of God on earth, whose presence is portrayed through a natural occurrence.
The Magi were seeking wisdom and knowledge in astrology and studying holy manuscripts. Something new shows up in the sky. And they investigate. Then realize at some point this is signifying the birth of “King of the Jews”.
How long did this take for them to figure this out? How long did it take them to prepare for the trip?
What drew them to travel so far and worship Him? - A Baby
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
When did this star appear?
Many theologians est. that the time betwen the Magi seeing the star and making their way to Jerusalem was about 2 years.
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
They came to a house. Joseph had settled them in. They were no longer in a lowly stable.
Fun fact: normally a writer would mention the mothers name first but Matthew mentioning the child first to declare his preeminence.
They bowed down and worshiped. - Did they bow to Herod? Does not say but these Magi had been advisors to many influential people. Seeing a King was not new to them. Maybe they were overcome by His deity? Something influenced them to bow.
Side note: Every knee will bow and confess Jesus is Lord. - End with this?
Opened up their treasures: Christmas play with little kids.
Gold - Because of its scarcity and immense value, gold was particularly associated with royalty.
Frankincense - is an aromatic gum resin that is still widely used in parts of the Middle East and Africa today. It is produced by scraping the bark of certain native species of trees and then harvesting the beads of resin after they have dried. When burned as incense, it creates a strong and beautiful aroma. In the ancient near east, the cost of frankincense precluded it from being used as a common household air freshener. Rather, the burning of frankincense was closely associated with ceremonial worship of a deity. In this way, the inclusion of frankincense as a gift for Jesus may have indicated that the wise men understood that the prophecy of the newborn king carried with it a claim of deity.
Myrrh - is a fragrant spice derived from the sap of a tree native to the Near East. Like frankincense, it can be used as incense, but in the ancient world it also had wider usage as a perfume, anointing oil, and was even imbibed as a medicinal tonic. Most notable with regard to Jesus’ life, myrrh was a key ingredient in the mixture of spices that were used to prepare bodies for burial (e.g., John 19:39-40). Perhaps the wise men intended this gift as an indication of Jesus’ humanity and the manner in which he would save his people—namely, that he would die for them (cf. Isaiah 53:5).
39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
Another “White Elephant” gift for Joseph
Move your family to another country:
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.